In the competitive world of e-commerce, agility and adaptability are essential for success. In this context, low-code development platforms driven by artificial intelligence (AI) bring promising advantages to e-commerce. By allowing the creation of digital tools through visual “drag-and-drop” interfaces, pre-designed templates, and ready-made configuration adjustments, low-code streamlines the process of designing and creating functional applications.
Since these platforms are super intuitive and come with ready-to-use components, actual coding is minimized. Thus, they enable even citizen developers (i.e., people without formal software development training) to participate in creating the tool itself or implementing e-commerce automation. By offering this possibility, these platforms democratize the development of e-commerce stores. This also fosters a more collaborative and inclusive environment, where business users and professional developers can seamlessly work together on projects.
E-commerce is one of the areas where low-code platforms are providing solutions to businesses, but there are many others as well. According to a study by Mordor Intelligence, the global market size for these platforms is around $16 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $62 billion by 2029, growing at a compound annual growth rate of nearly 31% during the forecast period (2024-2029).
Features and Advantages
Low-code platforms are equipped with workflow automation features. Additionally, they offer pre-designed connectors for popular data sources, which is crucial for e-commerce, as e-commerce environments handle large volumes of data from various technological sources. Additionally, low-code tools can leverage cloud resources to offer scalable deployment of e-commerce applications in the cloud environment with just one click.
The aforementioned advantages open up the possibility of shortening the delivery cycle of new e-commerce solutions, as well as reducing development costs. This also enables companies to quickly respond to market changes and new trends, gaining greater agility, a key factor in the e-commerce business. For example, they can instantly add options for new products. Furthermore, in the case of low-code, speed does not compromise the solidity and scalability of developments.
By leveraging these platforms, companies can create prototypes and quickly launch minimum viable products, iterate, and improve their websites and mobile applications based on user feedback.
In light of these advantages, the international consultancy Gartner anticipates that by 2025, 70% of all new applications will be created using no-code or low-code solutions.
Success Factors
It is well known that many e-commerce platforms rely on the integration of APIs and third-party services to incorporate essential functionalities such as shipping logistics, inventory management, and payment gateways, to name just a few. In this regard, low-code solutions also provide an advantage by simplifying the integration process through pre-designed connectors and visual tools for seamlessly connecting external services.
However, to succeed with this technology applied to e-commerce, it is essential to thoroughly understand the business needs, focus on delivering value to customers, and prioritize UX, ensuring smooth, user-friendly, and distinctive experiences.
It is also worth noting that low-code does not completely eliminate coding, as there may always be business needs that require customized logic in the application. Therefore, it is advisable to work with a technology partner who can make the most of low-code and, at the same time, has skilled programmers to ensure that the e-commerce store has no limits in terms of deployment for both the business and its customers.
Among practical examples, one can mention Shopify, one of the leading e-commerce platforms that uses low-code principles to enable companies to launch and scale their online stores. While this platform is not promoted as a low-code tool itself, it provides all the resources to set up an online business within hours. However, it is important to highlight that, although low-code minimizes the need for programming, it does not completely eliminate it, as certain needs may require customized logic in the application. That’s why it’s always advisable to rely on a software developer whose talents can create a store leveraging the potential of low-code, but with the added value that programming brings in terms of customization, optimization, scalability, and security. At Innova Developers, for example, we are experts in developing customer-centric, agile, and flexible e-commerce solutions, leveraging the advantages of low-code and applying our expertise in user experience (UX) design.
